The year was 2009 and Dan Henderson was a relatively unknown figure in the UFC circuit, but not so in his middle-weight division. He had proven his brittle against top opponents and a win at the UFC 100 would have spurred his career to the next level. UFC 100 is always remembered for the epic battle between Brock Lesnar and Frank Mir in their rematch, but that was also the night when Dan Henderson fought and overcame the hard-hitting Brit Michael Bisping.

It has been seven years since, the two coaches of “The Ultimate Fighter” season nine locked arms inside the octagon, where “Hendo” became the first to defeat “The Count” in the middleweight division. Bisping of team UK, at the time had a professional MMA record of 18 wins to just one loss. Hendo knocked Bisping out during the bout in the second round, in what was also awarded as the “Knockout of the Night”. The win helped put Henderson back in frame for a shot at the UFC Middleweight Championship.

Rivalry intensified Dan Henderson vs Michal Bisping 2

Over the years, the two fought their best and created a legacy of their own. Dan Henderson usually fell a little short of the championship each time. But seven years down, his career’s most important night arrived, UFC 204. Where, once again, he would be inside the Octagon against his arch-rival Michael Bisping, the fight was not just about “Hendo” and “The Count” it was as much a rivalry between two styles of MMA, the American way and the British way.

The American way had its supremacy in the past, and Henderson was confident of ending his career on a high with the middleweight championship belt on his waist. He had already announced his retirement, and at 46 he certainly would not have had many more years to go in the sport. Henderson had already breathed in fresh air to his career with a win over Bisping seven years ago, and he would have wanted nothing more but to regain that freshness on his night of hanging his gloves.

But things did not go as planned or thought by the American.

Bisping puts an end to Henderson

Prior to the eventual bout, the focus remained on Bisping needing to avoid the lethal right hand of Dan Henderson. However, in the fight, he was not quite successful in avoiding it. But, the home crowd ensured, he does not go down either. He succumbed to two crucial blows from Dan Henderson only to rise again and continue the fight. “The Count” lost his left eye in the first round suffering Hendo’s punch.

However, Bisping continued to control most of the action inside the cage. In order to overcome, the Manchester man had to make major adjustments to his game, his movement changed, he started changing the way he moved his head to avoid the counters and it began to work in his favour.

Henderson was very close to winning the title but eventually ended a stone’s throw away.

The only thing that would have gone against the American was that he could not throw everything he had in to Bisping’s direction during the penultimate rounds of the bout. However, he walks out of the octagon with his head held high and the status of a legend.

Which he truly is.     

Image Courtesy: MMA Junkie